If there was one thing that everyone could sense in the arena on Saturday evening at 6 pm at Big Ten Championships it was the rivalry between Michigan and Nebraska, and the competition that was about to take place in that Michigan was fighting for their long held Big Ten Championship prior to 2012, and Nebraska had a fire to regain their second Big Ten title.

      The second session began at 6 pm and going in, teams already knew the prior results—Iowa with a 193.4, Michigan State with a 195.45, Ohio State with a 195.95, and Illinois with a 196.475. The score to beat was a 196.475. Illinois put up that solid score to set the bar for the next teams up. Needless to say, this was not difficult for Michigan to beat, as well as the three other teams in the second session—Nebraska, Minnesota, and Penn State.

      The meet began with Michigan heading into floor, their top scoring event with a high at 49.625 when they competed against Penn State in Cliff Keen Arena. That was one of the moments when Michigan really saw their success tangibly and knew they were a contender this year to gain back a Big Ten title and to be a force to reckon with at Nationals. However, in Michigan State’s arena on Saturday night, being first up on floor was not exactly the ideal rotation for Michigan, or any team for that matter.

     It’s important that a team has the mental toughness and strength to endure any rotation order and come out on top, but beginning on floor and ending on beam is a challenge in itself. Floor is an event that their needs to be cutthroat drive, determination, and energy to really feel the routine, and compete at your best flow state. Top teams, Michigan included are more than capable of getting into this mental state first rotation, but it’s a collective challenge. In addition, ending on an event like beam is the opposite of the direction that the nerves flow in. As the meet goes on, the gymnasts get more excited and more anxious to come out on top, but on beam, something else is required—a calm demeanor, blocking out every surrounding, being one with the beam.

     Michigan went into beam with a few struggles behind them, a fall on floor that they came back from, but still having to count some lower than usual scores, and a fall on bars that they had to regain composure from and finish off the rotation. After the third rotation Michigan was at a 148.225, while Nebraska was trailing with a 148.075. Michigan had to have the beam of their life to take the title, and Nebraska coming off their highest team vault score last weekend was confident, cool, collected, and ready to reclaim the championship.

     Watching from a distance, it was apparent that Nebraska knew they were taking the title as they exuded confidence with each stride on vault, and with landings where they placed their feet on the mat, barely moving, or only small steps. Dan Miller, assistant coach, ran down with a purpose to each gymnast before she took flight—standing there with one after the other, eye to eye, deep breath in unison, and physiologically and mentally preparing the gymnast for what she was about to do.

     By the time the lineup came down to Wong and DeZiel, the anchors on vault, there was no question of who was going to capture the win; Nebraska competed the vault rotation counting four 9.95’s and a 9.925—seemingly flawless to the crowd—increasing the gap between Michigan and setting the standard high as Michigan closed out the beam rotation.

     Gies started the beam rotation off solid with a 9.85 with Sampson matching her score, Zurales brought in a 9.825, Miele a 9.8, and then having to count a 9.675 score from Casanova edged Michigan out of the picture for first. A few tears were flowing, hearts were broken, seniors feeling unfulfilled; however, Captain Katie Zurales explains Michigan is not done in stating, “We’re hungry for more.”

     As Michigan goes into this next week of practice they may feel slightly defeated from this loss, however they know they need to pick up their feet and move onto bringing back the focus in the gym. One tougher meet, a post-season-high-pressure meet, does not define them, like Zurales said, it’s “good practice” and that’s what is important. Michigan’s spirit, heart-filled team will, and is bouncing back, and they know they can build each other up, especially with the leadership of this team. These girls have each other’s backs, they know what they are capable of, and not only do they know but they have showed everyone what they can do multiple times.

     As all teams go forward into the season, it’s no longer about reps, or number of routines you can do, it’s a mental war out there. It’s about who has the ability to be out there on the floor, competing with a purpose, knowing they own their gymnastics and aren’t afraid to show it. There’s an art to competing with the focus and determination through all the pressure, expectations, and dreams to be fulfilled. That’s when you see teams rise above, and teams falter.

     As post-season comes along, this is the best time of the year because gymnasts are mentally challenged in more ways than one—some are out for redemption, some maintaining a high-ranked status—but no matter what, the best part about this sport is that it’s about who brings it right there, that day, their best game, and there’s your winner. That is big time college gymnastics.